St. Charles County contemplates bicycle ban

KSDK -- St. Charles County leaders are considering a ban on bicycle use on the southwest part of the county.

The bill was requested by County Councilman Joe Brazil.

Brazil says that the county spends millions of dollars a year on bikes and trails and those trails need to be used, not the highways.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit bicycles on Highway DD, Highway D, Highway F, Highway Z and Highway 94 from its intersection with Highway 40 to the St. Charles County line. The ordinance would apply to highways that lack shoulders or bicycle lanes.

"I get more complaints about this single issue than any other issue," Brazil said. "The speed limit is 55 mph. You come around a corner and there are two bikes in your lane. You can't pass them, and it becomes a hazard."

Brazil said he would expect small towns along the way, such as Defiance, Augusta and New Melle, would be exempt.